Toe-weight.



PATENTED JULY 30, 1907.

T-OE WEIGHT. AAPPLIOATION FILED JUNE 1a. 190s. RENEWBD JUNE 15,1901.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.y

JAMES D. KELLER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE SELL HORSE GOODS COMPANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TOE-WEIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1907.

Application filed .Tune 18, 1906, Serial No. 322,124. Renewed June l5, 1907. Serial No. 379,182.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs D. KELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Toe-Weights, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to toe weights for horses, and the object is to facilitate the secure application to and ready removal of such weights from horses7 hoofs, to prevent such weights from rattling, and to facilitate the attachment of quarter boots.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combinations of parts having part in producing the results stated, as shown in the drawing hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a horses hoof with the toe weight and quarter boot applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofthe plate to be secured to the horse s hoof and the spur which is integral therewith. Fig. 3 is a front view of the toe weight and the means for attaching it to the hoof. Fig. 4 is a rear view .of the same parts. Fig. 5 is a central vertical sectional view. Fig. AG is a transverse sectional view in the plane of line 6 6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 isa bottom plan view of the weight. Fig. 8 is a plan view.

Referring to the parts by letters, A represents a plate curved upon its rear face-so as to substantially conform to the curvature of the front faceotthe hoof to which it is to be secured. The counter-sunk-holes, a, are for the screws by which this plate is to be connected to said hoof. On the front side of this plate, but integral therewith, is a rib b, which is extended upward and above the plate in the form of a spur B. This spur is dove tailed or undercut to correspond with the shape of a groove d in the rear face of the weight D. This weight has in the lower part of its rear face a recess d which lits upon the plate A; and the dove tailed groove d extends upward from this recess to the top of the weight.

The spur D is made from spring metal and is sawed or otherwise slitted from its top downward and in a line substantially parallel with its sides. This forms two forked arms capable of being drawn toward each other, and thereby temporarily to reduce the width of the spur. On these forked arms are the two laterally projecting shoulders b b. The groove d in the weight is of such width that when the weight is pushed down upon said spur the two forked arms will be contracted until the top of the weight passes below these two shoulders. The forked arms then expand and said shoulders move over the top of the weight and prevent its removal unless the forked arms are again contracted. There is another shoulder b2 on the front side of the spur which overhangs the top of the weight and additionally safe guards the accidental removal of said' weight. The outwardly expanding of the forks of the spur also serves another useful purpose, to wit, by pressing outwardly against the sides of the groove d, they prevent the weight from rattling against the spur and plate.

The top of the spur is bent inward and downward to form the inverted open mouthed U-shaped clip b3. The strap c of the quarter boot C may be embraced by this clip, and thereby held against displacement. At the same time the lower edge of the strap c will, by engaging with the top of the weight, serve to aid in preventing the weight from rattling, and being accidentally removed. l

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination of a toe weight having a recess in the lower part of its rear face, and a dove tailed groove extending therefrom to the top of the weight, with a plate fitting said recess and adapted to be attached to a horses hoof and being provided with an upwardly extended dove tailed spur which is slitted from its top downward between the sides to form laterally compressible fork arms, said arms being provided with laterally extended shoulders placed so as to engage with the top of the weight when its recess embraces said plate, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The, combination of a toe weight having a recess in the lower part of its rear face and a dove tailed groove extending therefrom to the top of the weight, with a plate fitting said recess and adapted to be attached to a horses hoof and being provided with an outwardly extending dove tailed spur which is slitted from its top downward be tween the sides to form laterally compressible fork arms, which arms are provided with laterally extended shoulders adapted to extend over the top of the weight when said fork arms expand, said spur having its upper end bent inward and downward to form an inverted open Ushaped clip, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afhx my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES D. KELLER.

Witnesses z B. W. BUDDING'ioN, EUGENE L. NIcoL. 

